About six weeks ago I thought I was going to die from frustration. I wanted to start working and got a surprising amount of cool job offers but the work permit just kept on taking forever to get ready. I’ve applied for a few study and work visas before in my life but I’ve never expereinced a slower process than in Canada, not even near. Something to keep in mind if a year of working and traveling in Canada is on your wish list – Apply. In. Effing. Time. Unless you’re Australian!

However, looking back at it all I would not have wanted my summer to turn out in a different way. When I realized I still had weeks of waiting ahead of me I left my river raft guiding friends behind in Canmore and took off to Golden. After a massive improvised detour up to stunning Jasper and then down to a boiling hot Kamloops, that is.

I spent about a month in Golden last year but after coming back this time I realized I had only scratched the surface of what the place really has to offer. I’m deeply in love with it’s people and surroundings. Especially the Blaeberry Valley, a 15 minute drive from dowtown, where I found myself living among buffaloes and wildlife, waking up gazing at mountains in every direction, the sun my only alarm clock.

The Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch is the name of this magic spot, where I’ve been helping the ranch owner and buffalo expert Leo as a photographer and a little of everything in exchange for wonderful, local, organic food, and the best bedroom the Rockies has to offer, if you ask me.

Now my frustration has shifted to another issue; The fact that not even a lifetime, or five, will be enough to fully explore all the beauty this part of the world has to offer. Knowing that I’ll have at least a little over a year from now on to work on it makes me pretty darn happy though.